Market report for Tuesday, 16 October: 10 negative price intervals see Tas with minus $96.41/MWh as NSW, Vic, SA and Qld rise 11-13pc to $31.36-$34.84/MWh range on higher demand

Ten negative price trading intervals with prices between minus $158.68/MWh and minus $999.68/MWh resulted in Tasmania recording an average of minus $96.41/MWh, with NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland up 11-13 per cent to a range of $31.36-$34.84/MWh. System-wide maximum demand was up 712MW (2.7 per cent) with rises in all regions, led by the 316MW increase in NSW.

Tuesday, 16 October: One LRC omission and one addition for Qld in MT PASA list for week to 16 October

NEMMCO made two changes in the list for low reserve condition (LRC) in the medium term projected assessment of system adequacy (MT PASA) issued at 1314EST on Tuesday, 16 October following one change the previous week.

Tuesday, 16 October: Tas goes negative with 10 trading intervals between minus $158.68/MWh and minus $999.68/MWh

Tasmania recorded negative prices of between minus $158.68/MWh and minus $999.68/MWh in 10 30-minute trading intervals on Tuesday, 16 October. From morning to early afternoon: The negative prices started in the 0900EST interval and continued though until the 1400EST interval, with only one positive price in this period.

Range of negative prices: There were two negative prices between minus $100 and minus $200, two between minus $300 and minus $400, one between minus $400 and minus $500, 1 between minus $600 and minus $700, 1 between minus $800 and minus $900 and three over minus $900 – two at minus $999.67/MWh and one at minus $999.68/MWh.

Average at minus $96.41/MWh: These 10 trading intervals forced Tasmania’s average price for the day down to minus $96.41/MWh.

Highest price of day, too: Tasmania also recorded the day’s highest price for the NEM regions of $69.96/MWh in the 0630EST interval.

Demand up: Maximum demand of 1392MW in the 1930EST interval was up 87MW (6.7 per cent) on Monday.

Reference: National Price for Tasmania for one day, Tuesday 16 October, in Price/Demand section of Erisk Net – Realtime NEM Data.
http://www.erisk.net

Erisk Net, 17/10/2007

Wednesday, 17 October: Tas in about turn: Spike to $8000.16/MWh in morning trading interval tipped after 10 negative price intervals on Tuesda

The NEMMCO predispatch at 6.53 a.m. on Wednesday, 17 October predicted a spike to $8000.16/MWh for the 30-minute trading interval ended 0900EST. Average price of $191.13/MWh expected: This large spike is expected to be enough to push Tasmania’s average price to $191.13/MWh following an average of minus $96.41/MWh on Tuesday when there were 10 negative price intervals with prices ranging from minus $158.68/MWh to $999.68/MWh.

Demand up: Tasmania’s maximum demand is predicted to continue rising, up 72MW (5.2 per cent) to 1464MW following an 87MW rise on Tuesday. Tasmania is the only NEM region expected to register an increase in maximum demand on Wednesday.

Reference: Pool Price for Tasmania in NEMMCO predispatch at 6.53 a.m. on Wednesday in User Defined section of Erisk Net – Realtime NEM Data.
http://www.erisk.net

Market report for Wednesday, 10 October: Storms, $10,000 prices, directions and $3407.42/MWh spike in Qld push average price up 35pc, with NSW, Vic, SA and Tas down 1-14pc to overall $31-43-$113.39/MWh range on lower demand

An eventful day in Queensland with continuing storms, $10,000 dispatch prices to be reviewed, directions to three participants over credible contingencies and a spike with a top price of $3407.42/MWh saw average price rise 35 per cent to $113.39/MWh. Average prices fell 1-14 per cent in NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania to a range of $31.43-$35.73/MWh.

Gunns gains from commodity price boom: plan based on $US520 a tonne; and wood pulp prices now $US720 a tonne

According to Malcolm Maiden, in The Age, (5/10/2007, p. B1), stripped of emotion, the pulp mill that Gunns will now almost certainly build on the banks of the Tamar River in Tasmania was part of the commodity price boom that has been carrying the Australian economy along for half a decade. Pulp prices have been steadily rising since 2001 and 2002, off a base of about $US500 a tonne, to a spot quote of $US720 a tonne.

Roaring 40s to reverse last year’s decision to suspend operations in Australia: investing $600m in wind farms in Tasmania and South Australia

Tasmanian-based Roaring 40s said it would reverse last year’s decision to suspend operations in Australia in favour of building wind farms in China — a move that had been prompted by a lack of regulatory support, wrote Adele Ferguson in The Australian (29/9/2007, p. 33).

Tasmania daylight savings runs from 2am on first Sunday of October until 2am Sunday, April 6: most eastern states to conform next year

According to David Killick, this weekend, for the last time, Tasmania would enter a time zone of its own, reported The Mercury (3/10/2007, p. 3).

Sunday, 7 October: Tas starts week with negative price of minus $7.65/MWh in morning interval

Tasmania recorded a negative price of minus $7.65/MWh in the 30-minute trading interval ended 0800EST on Sunday, 7 October.

Friday, 5 October: Negative price in Tas with top of minus $43.36/MWh in three trading intervals

Tasmania had negative prices with a high of minus $43.36/MWh in three 30-minute evening trading intervals on Friday, 5 October.

New TAFE Tasmania course allows graduates to control multi-billion-dollar power stations

Designed in a partnership between Hydro Tasmania and TAFE, the Electricity Supply Industry Generation Training Package (GenTech) gives trainees hands-on experience managing massive water and power flows, reported The Mercury, (25/9/2007, p.18).

Market report for Thursday, 4 October: Qld spike, Tas negative price on day when average prices up 2-4pc in SA, Qld and Tas, down 7-10pc in NSW and Vic to $32.85-$46.94/MWh range on lower demand

An afternoon spike in Queensland and a morning negative price in Tasmania featured in a day when average prices rose 2-4 per cent in South Australia, Queensland and Tasmania and fell 7-10 per cent in NSW and Victoria to a range of $32.85-$49.94/MWh.

Market forecast for Friday, 5 October: Average prices steady in SA and Tas, down 11-30pc in NSW, Vic and Qld to $32.69-$36.73/MWh range on lower demand

Average prices are expected to be steady in South Australia and Tasmania and drop 11-30 per cent in NSW, Victoria and Queensland to a range of $32.69-$36.73/MWh.

Rainfall in SW Tas likely to increase 10pc, taking in important Hydro catchment areas; but others areas get 10-20pc less, says new CSIRO model

According to Peter Boyer, CSIRO Division of Marine and Atmospheric Research scientists have developed a variable-resolution climate model capable of providing fine resolution over a rela­tively small area like Tasmania, reported The Mercury (2/10/2007, p.17).

Thursday, 4 October: Second negative price in Tasmania this week with minus $3.60/MWh in one morning trading interval

Tasmania recorded a negative price of minus $3.60/MWh in the 30-minute trading interval ended 0900EST on Thursday, 5 October.

Bushfire sizzler season: Queensland heat-spike blackout on Monday 24 September: $10,000 price

For the NEM week to 29 September 2007, the top price of the week was the $1710.58/MWh spike in Queensland for the 30-minute trading interval ended 1000EST Monday. Queensland had the highest average price for the week and South Australia the lowest.

Sunday, 30 September: Tas ends month with negative price of minus $154.69/MWh in early morning trading interval

Tasmania recorded a negative price of minus $154.69/MWh in the 30-minute trading interval ended 0500EST on Sunday, 30 September.

2007 NEM September quarter av pool down $9.86-$68.04/MWh (14-55pc) on inflated June quarter results

Average prices fell between $9.86-$68.04 (14 to 55 per cent) in the September quarter on the June quarter to a range of $53.35-$62.53/MWh, an analysis of price and demand statistics shows.

Australia-Russia Nuclear Cooperation Agreement referred to Senate Committee

Greens Senator Christine Milne in the Commonwealth Senate on 17 September 2007 moved a referral questioning the impact of the Australia-Russia Nuclear Cooperation Agreement signed on 7 September 2007 to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee for inquiry and report by 3 December 2007.

Greens leader wants plebiscites to allow local input on all major infrastructure decisions: pulp mills, desal, nuclear power plants and Queensland council mergers

Amendments to the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Democratic Plebiscites) Bill 2007 deserved support, said Greens leader Senator Bob Brown in the Federal Senate on 17 September 2007.

Greens support Federal plebiscite bill says Greens leader: Positive for democracy

The Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Democratic Plebiscites) Bill 2007 could be the greatest contribution to democracy the government has made in its time in office, Greens leader Senator Bob Brown said in the Federal Senate on 17 September 2007.

Hydro Tasmania: 1205GWh of inputs at an average price of $26 over the period since last April, and 422 GWh at an average price of $102/MW on export

Dr David Crean, Chair, Hydro Tasmania, and Vince Hawkesworth chief executive officer, Hydro Tasmania explainedi n March, “we did 205 gigawatt hours of inputs at an average price of $26 over the period since last April, and 422 gigawatt hours at an average price of $102 per megawatt on export”.

Market report for Tuesday, 25 September: Average prices down 2-40pc to range of $35.22-$55.97/MWh range on steady demand: Negative prices in Tas

Average prices fell 2-40 per cent to a range of $35.22-$55.97/MWh range with the major influences being negative prices in Tasmania and the absence of a spike in Queensland. System-wide maximum demand eased by 65MW (0.2 per cent) to 26,316MW, with the only substantial movements being a fall of 104MW in Victoria and a rise of 69MW in NSW. Top price of the day was the $87.90/MWh in Queensland for the 30-minute trading interval ended 1030EST. Queensland had the highest average price and Tasmania the lowest. Temperature ranges in the NEM capitals were: Sydney 13-20 degrees (9-27 on Monday); Melbourne 9-19 degrees (10-18); Adelaide 14 -30 degrees (8-21); Brisbane 12-27 degrees (11-25); and Hobart 7-15 degrees (7-14).

Market report for week to Saturday, 22 September: Average prices up 8-13pc to $44.45-$54.01/MWh range on weaker demand: Small spikes in Qld and NSW

Average prices rose 8-13 per cent to a range of $44.45-$54.01/MWh with small spikes on three days in Queensland and one day in NSW.

Battle of the pulp mill-accounts: Gunns claims greenhouse gas emissions reduced 1.3 million tonnes of CO2-e, a year

Jim Wilkinson, Member for Nelson, Independent, speaking to the Legislative Council, Parliament of Tasmania, Tasmania, 30 August 2007 said “With the pulp mill commencing operations, greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by approximately a net 1.3 million tonnes of CO 2 equivalent per annum.

Tuesday, 18 September: 2 additions, 5 omissions to MT PASA following one addition and one omission the previous week

NEMMCO made two additions and five omissions in the list for low reserve condition (LRC) in the medium term projected assessment of system adequacy (MT PASA) issued at 14065EST on Tuesday, 18 September to that issued on Tuesday, 11 September, which had one addition and one omission.

Open interest contracts rise 224 (0.6pc)to 39,462 in week to 17 September, d-cypha Trade summary shows

Open interest contracts rose by 480 (1.2 per cent) to 39,942 in the week to Monday, 17 September following a rise of 224 (0.6 per cent) to 39,462 the previous week, according to figures supplied in a media release by the d-cypha Trade/Sydney Futures Exchange (SFE).

Details of complex history of Tasmanian pulp mill assessment laid bare in Legislative Council

The history of the hearings on the application for a permit to construct a proposed pulp mill by Gunns was detailed by T.L. Martin in the Tasmanian Legislative Council on 28 August 2007.

Life changing decision: Discussing the approval process decided on by both Houses of the Tasmanian Parliament back in March and April, Martin recalled: “I was one of five in this Chamber who voted against the process and for me, perhaps more than some of the others, I knew at the time that because of the ramifications of that vote it was going to be a life-changing decision.”

Deadline extended: “In July 2006, Gunns issued the Bell Bay pulp mill draft integrated impact statement and in October Beca AMEC, CSIRO and URS Australia issued their reports in the draft IIS to the Resource Planning and Development Commission (RPDC) and straightaway a directions hearing was held in Launceston to assist the RPDC to prepare for a public hearing into the Gunns’ proposal,” recalled Martin. “In November, Unicrest issued its report on the draft IIS to the RPDC and in December, the RPDC issued the directions arising out of the directions hearing. Basically they revolved around supplementary information to be provided by Gunns to address the new guidelines by 15 December and that was later put out to 31 January 2007.”

Non-compliance identified: “In January 2007, two things happened. The RPDC panel member, Dr Warwick Rafferty, resigned and executive commissioner of the RPDC and chairman of the pulp mill assessment panel, Julian Green, also resigned,” Martin said. “I am not going into that story. Gunns also were unable to provide the supplementary information by the due date of 31 January. In February, the RPDC reconstituted the assessment panel with two new appointments, but then issued the Bell Bay pulp mill draft integrated impact statement, supplementary information. A second directions hearing was held to facilitate and clarify those steps which were necessary to ensure the completion of the assessment process. The panel and the RPDC staff reviewed the supplementary information against the direction given by the panel to Gunns which arose out of the directions hearing of 25 October 2006 and, at that stage, significant non-compliance with that direction was identified.”

Gunns withdraw from process: “That really is an important point that I believe this Parliament should have been aware of when we dealt with the assessment bill legislation. In March 2007, the RPDC prepared a letter for Gunns in which the non-compliances with the direction were identified, the most serious of which was the failure by Gunns to integrate the supplementary information of the draft IIS. This letter was to be issued to Gunns on 9 March but it was not sent at the request of the Secretary of Department of Premier and Cabinet. On 14 March 2007, Gunns withdrew from the RPDC assessment process. At that stage the Parliament was not told about this non-compliance with the supplementary information that had been identified with the RPDC. In April, Gunns withdrew the referral to the Federal department. The Federal Government was to carry out an assessment of the project that included the impact on listed and threatened species, forests as well as the marine environment, and related international treaty applications. ‘The Commonwealth assessment process is an assessment on preliminary documentation’ and that is a quote.”

RPDC involvement ceases: “The Pulp Mill Assessment Bill passed both Houses of Parliament in the Tasmanian Parliament and was given royal assent on 30 April. As a result of the act receiving royal assent, the project ceased to be a project of State significance and the RPDC had no further involvement in the project. The Finnish consultancy group, SWECO PIC, and the Melbourne consultancy, ITS Global, were announced as the Tasmanian Government’s independent consultants of choice to assess the proposal by Gunns against the Tasmanian guidelines. In June, of course, SWECO PIC issued its final report, as did ITS Global, and that is what we are considering today.”

Reference: Doug Parkinson, Leader of the Government in the Council, Member for Wellington, Legislative Council, Parliament of Tasmania, Tasmania, 28 August 2007.

Erisk Net, 14/9/2007

4km cable connects Tasmania’s Bell Bay and Beauty Point, improves power supplies on the West Tamar

Aurora Energy has spent $3 million putting a high-voltage underwater cable across the Tamar River, reported The Mercury (14/9/2007, p. 9).

4km submarine cable replaces 30km line: Project manager Ian Walker said the 4 kilometre cable, which connected Bell Bay and Beauty Point, would improve power supplies on the West Tamar. “Currently electricity in Beaconsfield and Beauty Point is fed from a 30km overhead high-voltage line,” he said. “The new submarine cable provides the same load of electricity through a 4km cable.” The 1.7km submarine sec­tion of cable was sheathed in lead to prevent erosion. It will rest in about 4m of water.

The Mercury, 14/9/2007, p. 9

Hydro Tas imports 331GWh electricity so far this financial year at cost of $16m: hopes for Spring rain

Hydro Tasmania energy re­sources manager David Marshall said Basslink would continue to play a critical role in supplementing local power generation unless significant rain fell, reported The Mercury (11/9/2007, p.7).

Hopes for Spring rainfall: “The outlook for September is so far not promising as inflows have been below aver­age following low rainfall and falling river flows,” Marsh­all said. “We are now looking to some good spring rains in the coming months.” Hydro Tasmania im­ported 331 gigawatt hours of electricity so far this financial year at a cost of about $16 mil­lion and was likely to remain a net importer of energy for the rest of the financial year, a Hydro spokesperson said. The government-owed busi­ness would concentrate on build­ing up storages so it could export power during high price peri­ods interstate. Cloud seeding, mooted to help rainfall, has not taken place due to unfavourable weather.

The Mercury, 11/9/2007, p. 7